FunnyGuy

Avalia

Time: Afternoon
Location: Oasis near Dugmaghord
Interactions: Rosaria @potter, Nuallán @13org
Mentions:

Equipment:

Pocket watch
Black stetson
Hat and Cowl
Black Duster Outfit
Repeating Crossbow
100 Iron Bolts
100 Steel Bolts
Champ (Oak Horse)
Megatron figurine
Hunting knife
Rope
Saddlebag
Black neckerchief
Tinder box
Canteen
Matches
2 lbs of black powder
Two Gold nuggets
$40
Black swim trunks
Teeth Cleanser
Jumping Shoes
Body Cleanser
Armpit Fragrance
Birth Preventers (6)
Dark sight glasses
Wayfinder
First Aid Kit Cloth Armor
Mithral Shortsword
3 Red Potions
3 Blue Potions
Strength Gloves

---

“You really gotta ask to grant us an edge, princess?” Slick looked over his shoulder as he took the lead on foot just as he’d done while mounted. Slick continued as he tugged on the sling of his repeating crossbow to ensure its presence.. “You need to quit bein’ so polite to the critter you’re fixin’ to bloody. Think like your butler if that’s what you’re fixin’ to make him out to be.” Slick turned completely so he could face Rosaria as she caught up to his place on the edge of the oasis.

“Take any and every advantage. Do that and you ain’t ever gonna lose.” Slick winked before his eyes met Nuallán’s accompanied by a grin. “Speaking of…” He turned back around to face the oasis as he slowly spread his arms out on either side. Exerting his will over his very element, Slick began manipulating the general direction of the wind toward themselves. Even when he dropped his hands down the wind continued to pull in their direction “No need to play fair, princess. Life ain’t a game.” His words were filled with a cruel type of wisdom.

“So make us unseen will you.” It almost sounded like an order… almost.

Avalia

Time: Afternoon
Location: Myriamor
Interactions: Myra @13org, Maeryn @princess, Alaia @Alivefalling
Mentions:

Equipment:

Outfit (left)
Disguise Ring (Appearance)

---

“I agree…. And disagree…” Vrexen narrowed his eyes with a low growl. He wanted to crash into his foes with all his might. Stalking was enjoyable but wanted more than to sneak around. What if they ended up empty-handed? Vrexen shook away the thought. “Astra… speak.” He ordered her to give her input on what Maeryn had said.

“Of course Lord of Violence.” She played along with a grin. “I think Maeryn has a point. I mean, I still want to buy some stuff, but I can catch up if I’m fast. Not like I’m the combat type anyhow.”

“Yet. As my second disciple, you will be powerful… or you will die weak.” Vrexen was a constant reminder to Astra that she couldn’t be useless to the group.

“Understood. Allow me to grab some things so I might assist you Lord Vrexen. I may not possess the strength you do, the swiftness of Myra, or the skills of Maeryn, but I have a way to contribute. Trust me.”

“Trust? No, prove it. We will continue to Dugmghord with Maeryn’s plans leading us. He has proving to do as well, yes Maeryn?” Vrexen actually smirked. He wanted someone to give him a reason to spill their blood across the hot sand.

And so the whole group minus Astra continued on toward the ever-testing desert.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Pancake-eater Outfit

Time: Morning
Location: Pancakes at the Park
Interaction: Ruby @SausagePat
Mention:

---

“Have you ever committed to a deed out of the goodness of your heart with the most benevolent of intention, only to have it grab the nearest musket and blow your face clean off? If it hasn’t, then you are far too lucky… If it has, then just imagine it occurring every waking day of your life…“

Lorenzo watched with the utmost confusion as the woman he assumed was just a hungry vagrant performed the oddest dance had ever seen. He looked over his shoulder at the other attendees behind him, searching for some cue he had missed. He had been away from public events for nearly a year so he might have understood not being in the loop of new norms and practices. Unfortunately, every face he caught sight of wore the same expression of bewilderment. When he returned his sights forward, he caught the woman giving him what he thought was a very misplaced wink. Blinking rapidly, Lorenzo could feel he was beyond his depth with this woman who made him feel oddly embarrassed. He didn’t know what to do. How was he meant to challenge this? With conformity or ire?

Luckily, for the time being, her focus was gathering as many waffles onto her plate as possible. However, Lorenzo could hardly keep his own focus off of her. He curiously watched for what odd thing she might do next, and he wouldn’t be left disappointed. Confused, yes, but not disappointed. Could she perhaps be… ‘on the stuff’? Lorenzo strained his eyes a bit as if he would magically identify some indication of drug addiction besides the woman’s clearly visible behavior and unfitting attire.

Then the third or maybe it was the fourth strangest thing that occurred. The odd young woman had placed so many waffles on her plate that a trumpeter began playing a celebratory tune. Now look, Lorenzo was a lover of waffles himself but even he wouldn’t dare to take one of each kind like she had and-

“What on heaven’s earth…” Lorenzo quietly uttered as he watched the woman gorge on the waffles before even making her way from the serving table! He wanted to hurry and grab a waffle or two but he was afraid the woman might do something too wild for him to be prepared for. So instead, he took his time with short and slow steps toward the serving table. He winced and gripped his plate tightly when she suddenly shrieked at the trumpet player in excitement. He was getting so close to the waffles, but was it truly worth it? He could still smell the pancakes. Maybe he could turn back, yes? No, it was too late! It was when her eyes met his form again that he mentally prepared to smash his plate into the woman’s face out of fear for his… life? Fear for something! I don’t know what she intends to do to me, but I must not let her do it! Where’s Lottie?! He whipped his head around looking for Charlotte, but there were far too many people blocking his view and he’d consider himself a damned fool if he stepped out of the waffle line while he was so close to the serving table now!

“THESE ARE GOOD! PILE THEM UP!”

With conformity or ire?

“Uh… Yeah! I must try them! YES!” And so Lorenzo made his choice. He nodded at the woman happily in an effort to put himself in her good graces. Whatever that meant. He inched closer to the table but, unfortunately, moved closer to her as well. In the process of reaching for an unclaimed blueberry waffle, Lorenzo found his face mere inches from none other than a glob of chocolate chip waffle offered by the strange woman with a smile that made Lorenzo so frightened inside that he had to continue to submit to her crazed antics. A duke must do what he must… I pray this waffle is not my last. He winced, before taking a bite from the fork. Initially, he chewed awkwardly, but the taste of the scrumptious chocolate chip waffle nearly removed the desperate duke from the moment. “You’re right young lady. These are indeed delicious! I dare say the best waffles I’ve had outside of Veirmont!” No longer fearfully conforming to the silliiness, Lorenzo found himself genuinely pleased with what he had the opportunity of indulging in.

“Hey can you imbeciles get a move on! You fools are not the only ones in line!” A patron shouted causing Lorenzo to face him apologetically. “Yeah, you! And your bitch there! Hurry it up so I can eat some waffles, damn it!”

Again Lorenzo was given a choice. The short man before with slicked-back blond hair was far too normal to seem as frightening as the vagrant. He wasn’t one for confrontation, but he very much disliked undeserved insults.

With conformity or ire?

Lorenzo furrowed his brow intensely but remained where he was.

“Do you have any idea who you speak to?! And you call me the fool?! I am the venerable Duke of Veirmont!” The trumpeter abruptly ceased playing his tune the moment the duke raised his voice. Lorenzo was all in now. He raised his arms up like a victorious gladiator, his empty plate still in his right hand. “You must be illiterate, sir! You must be! Because did today’s paper not warn you of the Duke of Veirmont?! The warmonger! The fucker of counts! Hmm?!” Lorenzo’s face held an intensity that was almost never seen, his facial scars only adding to the intimidating aura he managed to pull out of his ass. “You will wait right there… patiently! Or you may find your name graced along mine in the Caesonia News tomorrow.” Lorenzo briefly narrowed his eyes leaving his threat to the man’s own imagination who was more disgusted than afraid of what Lorenzo even inferring. “Hmph.” And with that Lorenzo turned back to the serving table.

Young Justice

Location: Kobra Facility, New Mexico
Interactions: The Team, specifically Aleen’a @baraquiel

---

“Clean them up and then we'll use our secret weapon to breach the facility,”

Viktor clenched his jaw beneath his mask as he mentally went over the team’s hastily concocted plan. It wasn’t one he particularly enjoyed but he surprisingly had a bit of faith in it. It was a far cry from the squid debacle. He couldn’t afford to be so critical. Not when there was someone who needed rescuing. To have Riley be the bait for discovering this location was a dire risk but the team was left with few options after what occurred at the cafe with the mystery girl.

So the plan was laid out as such…

“We don’t have much to go on, yes, but waiting isn’t much of an option. Luckily we were provided with a rough layout of the facility due to the capabilities of our tracker. Courtesy of the League.”

“First, we’ll take out any security measures they have at the exterior of the base. Then we move into breaching the facility. We are unaware of any exterior electronic surveillance, so once we take out the guards, we’ll need to hit Kobra with some shock and awe. With a combined strike from a few of our heavy hitters and some flare from Zach… We’ll hit the enemy before they even have the chance to realize what’s happening…”

In real-time, Viktor positioned himself behind a boulder and equipped his collapsed bow. He strung a blunt-tipped arrow with his mark being the guard in the tower. With Aleen’a in position, and the others lacking much range, he released the arrow from the incredibly weighted drawstring. The arrow struck the tower guard with concussive force knocking him down and out.

“Brightheart. Strike him now.” He ordered over comms as he already had another blunt arrow strung. Without waiting any longer, he let the second arrow fly, hitting the guard with the same effect as the first. With Aleen’a already engaged, it was up to Alisa, Kassy, Ja, and Zach to perform the shock and awe. The first three would bust through the right side of the facility and stand back to allow Zach to add the flare.

Code Vein (Closed)

---

Location: Farmhouse → Howling Pit
Interactions: Akaia @Exit, Vincent @Daxam, and Juice @PigeonOfAstora,
Mentions:

Erik paced directly behind Renee’s shoulder upon arriving at what Erik always thought to be one of the more interesting settlements. At face value, the location was simply a small place with a few families in the middle of nowhere. The feel of the tight-knit community was faintly familiar to him, bringing back nostalgia from before he was ever even a revenant. However, his many years dulled his ability to relive a far experienced moment in time. Perhaps vestiges spoiled the man with how they granted vivid experiences of the past.

With a sunny exterior, he greeted all who met his gaze with a smile and a nod. The first time he visited the camp was when he chose to use it as a one-night bed down location. At first, he found it odd for a settlement purely of revenants to establish a farm, but after explaining that produce was their means of trading for blood beads, Erik couldn’t knock it. It wasn’t until his second visit after establishing the Crow’s Nest that Erik sought to trade with the group.

Once inside the shed, Erik quietly scanned the map before realizing everyone had one location at the forefront of their minds.

“That place?” Erik asked with a tone of skepticism. “Who’d want to go there?” He glanced at the others around the map before feeling he should further explain. “I’ve only heard rumors of it but it’s almost as the name simply suggests. A nasty little pit full of hungry Lost, right?”

“Yes, but there’s more to why it's one of the last places left uninvestigated.” Renee bit her lower lip as she knew she’d have to start being transparent with those that volunteered to help the people here. “The miasma in that area has become thicker over the past few weeks and no one here is really willing to go. Erik, we’re not like your-”

“Sounds like our kind of thing!” Erik interrupted excitedly as he placed his index finger on the location of the Howling Pit. “And this the perfect opportunity for us to see what our new friend can do and for him to see what we’re all about as well. A win-win, right?” Erik nodded at everyone surrounding the map. The way Erik saw it, they didn’t all drive there for nothing. If it meant helping out another independent settlement they had good relations with, the Commune could at least take the time to investigate the Howling Pit.

Renee averted her gaze from Erik’s lack of hesitation.

“Thanks.” She knew Erik was… like this, but had never experienced it first hand. Is he confident or ignorant? No matter which, he had those that supported him at his side.

Renee did not want to think they were leading them into a death trap. The Commune had the diverse skill sets of their unique members to nearly tackle any kind of situation. Their community only had farm folk and the occasional explorer such as herself. She wouldn’t go as far as to say the Commune was used to facing the impossible but they would do a much better job at it than they would.

Despite not venturing out with them herself she wanted to assist in any way she could. She retrieved a set of keys belonging to their exploration jeep. The terrain bordering the Howling Pit was rough and not easy to get to using the van they’d arrived in.
“Erik ,you can take our jeep. It has less room for equipment, so you can only take the bare essentials. The terrain you’re going into is rough, it won’t be good for your van.” She tossed the keys his way and he snatched them out from in front of him.

“You heard her! Get the bare essentials to the jeep and let’s keep things rolling. Someone grab that map.”

In due time, the group was on the road again, this time in an old bright yellow jeep.The path took them unimproved dirt roads that eventually led them toward the Howling Pit. Besides the miasma being thick in the air, the pit was far from impressive. It was just as Erik described it.

“A nasty little pit full of hungry Lost…”

There were only seven thralls down in the pit only deep enough to keep them b from getting out. At first glance it didn’t appear to more than what was described, but with further inspection, there was a small cave opening on the near side of the pit that would only be visible to someone who rounded the pit.

“Krugers and Edgelords, huh?” Erik said noting the weaponry the thralls below possessed. He crossed is arms over his chest as he surveyed the pit from where he stood. “At least I got see this place for myself… the Howling Pit. Not impressive one bit. Oh, that rhymed!” He gave himself a mental pat on the back.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Pancake-eater Outfit

Time: Morning
Location: Pancakes at the Park
Interaction: Ruby @SausagePat
Mention:

---

Things are really going in my favor today… maybe it truly will be a good day for me. Lorenzo thought as he feasted his eyes on the gentleman who had just entered the Pancakes at the Park event with waffles. Though the duke found the move to be quite the bold one, he was grateful for it. Lorenzo had never enjoyed pancakes, in fact, he seemed to have a deep-seated hatred for them. The oddest part about his disdain for the fluffy brown breakfast disks was that he could never explain why he despised them.

Whatever the case, Lorenzo was just glad he could indulge in an alternative he enjoyed. Waffles. However, he needed to be quick so he could grab a favorable spot in line as more and more patrons arrived. He noticed the faces of a few nobles and sighed at the thought of having to share forced pleasantries with anyone. He might have noticed the precious Crystal Damien, but his eyes were nearly glued to the large stack of waffles.

Not first, not second, not even third, Lorenzo was sixth in line and-

Bump!

Lorenzo nearly jumped out of his skin as he felt the abrupt hard physical contact on his back. Initially believing he was being assailed, he turned and faced the cause for panic with his plate slightly cocked up in his hands. Seeing the culprit as seemingly a victim of homelessness from solely her appearance, the duke relaxed his subpar defensive stance. She was quite angry at him, but he had been a companion of enmity for a very long time. He turned from her without a word, hoping the situation would simply deescalate, but he could hear her grumblings behind him.

Like a gnat, the woman caused him to wince ever so slightly with each distasteful word he could pick up from her insults. And so, just as he was reaching the front of the line, Lorenzo side-stepped and put a hand out to direct the young homeless woman ahead of him.

“For the trouble.” He put on a warm but uneasy smile, not entirely confident with this move.

Avalia

Time: Evening
Location: Guarav Village
Interactions: Isolde @Blizz, Dante @Alivefalling, Menzai @samreaper, and Aidan @potter
Mentions:

Equipment:

Armor Deflection
Channeling Gloves
Ergen named Marble
Padded Cloth Armor
Memory Glass
Teeth Cleanser
Hair Cleanser
Hair Softener
Body Cleanser
Armpit Fragrance
Wayfinder
Backpack
4 flasks
3 Medium Red Potions
4 Medium Blue Potions
3 Black Potions
Elven Outfit 170

---

Darius looked at each human while nodding. Everyone was down for taking on the “fog beast” which meant that they’d be working together. Competition would have been fun sure, but scrounging against small creatures didn’t compare to what seemed like a boss battle. It was only fitting as Menzai sought to test cumulatively in a way.

The added conditions and time limit by Menzai caused Darius to raise an eyebrow. That’s cheap. However, his initial feelings on Menzai’s addons dispersed as he took another look at who he’d be fighting alongside with.. Fuck it, we can do this! A playful smirk painted his expression.

“Then it’s decided then!” Darius announced as he strutted over to the tree and reached down to pick up the purple-marked hunting knife. He inspected it for a moment before speaking again “Ready when you are Menzai.” He commented as his eyes lingered on the blade of the weapon

Avalia

Time: Afternoon
Location: Dugmaghord
Interactions: Rosaria @potter, Nuallán @13org
Mentions:

Equipment:

Pocket watch
Black stetson
Hat and Cowl
Black Duster Outfit
Repeating Crossbow
100 Iron Bolts
100 Steel Bolts
Champ (Oak Horse)
Megatron figurine
Hunting knife
Rope
Saddlebag
Black neckerchief
Tinder box
Canteen
Matches
2 lbs of black powder
Two Gold nuggets
$40
Black swim trunks
Teeth Cleanser
Jumping Shoes
Body Cleanser
Armpit Fragrance
Birth Preventers (6)
Dark sight glasses
Wayfinder
First Aid Kit Cloth Armor
Mithral Shortsword
3 Red Potions
3 Blue Potions
Strength Gloves

---

The horses galloped from Dugmaghord with Slick taking point. Their destination was a small oasis that weren’t much except some fruit and small critters but every now and then something big reared its head. Now usually Slick wasn’t a fan of botherin’ the larger things that dwelled in the desert, but he’d make an exception if it meant scoring some amas to fill his pockets with.

Moments later…

“There she is! See that green up ahead, princess?! That’s where we’re gonna get lucky!” He shouted back to her. “Whoa there Champ, slow it down.” Slick said as he tugged on the horse’s reins and slowed to a light trot. He didn’t want to startle anything on their approach, and he sure as hell didn’t want to broadcast to some behemoth that potential food was on its way. Slick allowed Rosaria and Nuallán to get close before speaking softly. It was more like a low raspy tone, but it was just as quiet.

“Hey listen here lovebirds, we ain’t got the whole calvary but we sure got some mighty fine firepower between the three of us. If things get hairy, I say we give whatever’s on the other side a taste of hell. Agreed?” Slick nodded before setting his sights toward the oasis before coming to a complete stop and dismounting Champagne next to a patch of sparsely grown vegetation. It was enough to keep the oak horse occupied while he searched for something mighty fine to gun down.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Pancake-Eater Fit

Time: Morning
Location: Sorian Vikena Estate → Pancakes
Interaction: Charlotte @princess
Mention: only Calbert Damien...

---

As moments passed while he got himself freshened up and ready, Lorenzo couldn’t help but feel his excitement begin to wane. His spike of optimism had been short-lived and by the time he was dressed, he almost did not want to leave the estate. He could surely get away with it as he assumed he wasn’t very welcomed anywhere. There was also the added bonus of Calbert not breathing down his neck about why he had gone out in public again. He puffed his chest as he looked at his appearance in the mirror and held an esteemed pose. Unfortunately, the radiant confidence died with a deep depressing sigh.

“It’s only pancakes in the park. Probably with more of the common people. Yes, yes, of course. This won’t be bad at all. Besides, the park is close by and I can come home at my leisure. Good.” Lorenzo assured himself, literally as he was looking at his own reflection. With a confident nod to his reversed doppelganger, Lorenzo exited the room and proceeded in meeting Charlotte out front. Again he was last to leave. And again, his beloved daughter was looking as pleasant as ever.

“Behind you, Charlotte,” Lorenzo waved with a warm smile on his face. He noticed the basket, which he initially thought was food to go, especially due to his distaste for pancakes. Then he thought it might be Kier… He isn’t supposed to be out just yet! His eyes widened briefly before he narrowed them once he realized the creature peeking from the basket was not Kier at all, but a cat! “A new friend, I see. Hello there.” He smiled at Champion, giving the cat a friendly greeting. It wasn’t a new thing for Charlotte to bring in the helpless. Sometimes it was a cat… other times it could be a person she pitied. As long as it’s only cats she’s sheltering this time around.

Seeing as the park was within walking distance, the three of them did just that. They simply walked and talked about how Charlotte had found Champion, her new friend. Lorenzo wanted to know more about Charlotte’s long night but the two had already arrived at the event. The scent of sweet batter filled the air, originating from a station set up with several cooks making pancakes and prepping toppings. There was a collection of rectangular tables set out for seating, covered in vibrant yellow tablecloths. It was plain to see it was not an event geared toward royalty, but it was a Sorian even nevertheless.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Morning
Location: Sorian Vikena Estate

---

“The tavern? The library?” Lorenzo questioned Charlotte’s places of interest in finding him… wherever he had been. And like clockwork, the fancy mustache-wearing count pointed to the flower petal with a displaced pride. Why was he proud of this? “Clearly, you didn’t look in my favorite hiding place. Hmph. But I won’t hold that to you, Lottie. The garden we have here is vast and full of thick, healthy flowers… that I ruined but… you know… Just. Just thank heavens we’re both safe!” He pulled her back into a hug. “Never again,” but what did he mean?

Charlotte’s eyes dilated as memories of the garden doused in the night’s darkness painted themselves before her. Nothing had been there. She had checked everywhere. She hadn’t even noticed she was being hugged as she ran through the images over and over, wanting to clarify her own sanity. “I did!” Charlotte cried out defensively suddenly. She gave him a quick hug and then let go to readjust her head so she can look him in the eyes. “Lorenzo, I searched the garden. You… You weren’t there.”

Her certainty challenged what Lorenzo thought to be true, so much so that gently scratched the back of his neck nervously as he attempted to jog his memory. Still nothing. I don’t remember anything! Blast this cursed affliction! He cleared his throat before offering up an explanation.

“Well, that is rather peculiar… are you certain? I- You started your search in the night, so you likely just missed me. Yes! And I was under the oak tree shading from the moonlight. A shadow in the dark.” He bobbed a pointed index finger with the last five words as he felt he had come up with a new idea for a poem.

Perplexed, Charlotte was deep in thought for a moment before she sighed. She could look more into this later. Frankly, she was exhausted, and apparently, her stepfather had been sleeping in the dirt all night, so it would do either of them no good to go back and forth. “I suppose I did....” She relented.

“Just what on earth did you two get up to last night!”

Delilah entered the room with the daily news stretched out between her hands before her. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she pointed at it. “The rumors are insidious! And Duke Lorenzo, sir, you’re headlining!” Delilah’s words caused Lorenzo to spring up, jolted with… excitement.

“Am I?!” Turning from Charlotte, he moved to Delilah’s side to peer at the newspaper. It was easy to discern the death of his optimism as he spotted the headline. “Warmongers? It- It was simply a mistake. I mean, Charlotte you were right there. I… I didn’t touch anyone! It was the over-polished floors and that clumsy guard or whoever it was that couldn’t keep their footing. I mean this- this shouldn’t fall on me! This is exactly why I prefer the Veirmont Gazette.” Lorenzo ranted and huffed before his eyes found the Morning Tea. His guilty pleasure of the Caesonia Newspaper. Charlotte had moved over to read as well. She had bit her lip, uncertain what to say. She had hoped that he would have understood what he had done after everything.

“What?! How could they?! Concubine?! Fu-” He stopped himself as he remembered the two women in his presence. “People can be so distasteful here… I wonder if we should just leave.” He hung his head.

Charlotte groaned. Though it irritated her that people may view her offer as such now, she knew they had bigger problems. She’d have to shake this off somehow.

Going back to Veirmont was a delightful dream, but one that would simply delay their problems. Charlotte knew she had to stub this Calbert problem in the toe here and now. Besides, she had promised Leo she’d help him too this summer. “I don’t think we should let them chase us home. Since when did we care what they think?” Charlotte’s words again charged Lorenzo with a well of confidence.

She wondered if Calbert had something to do with calling her a concubine. He had said something similar but she supposed others could have mistaken her gesture as well. As her gaze moved lower, she did a double take.

…Is he fucking Count Calbert?

“...They’ve lost their minds.” She commented dryly.

“Yes. They. Have!” Lorenzo’s face was full of determination as he stared piercingly into Charlotte’s eyes. “They have lost their minds if they believe they can chase the Vikenas off. Hmph, it’s clear this paper is biased against us… But we have made quite the impact.” Lorenzo stepped away from both Charlotte and Delilah as he began to slowly pace with his hands clasped behind his back like he was some sort of mastermind. Lorenzo had always rivaled Calbert’s ability to gaslight, except he only did it to himself.

“Despite the bias, we made the headline.” Lorenzo smirked amusingly. “We practically owned the night it seems! Not only that… We have an exclusive audience with the Alidasht royal family. Every week, until they depart. You see, Lottie…” He had his back to her now as he stopped in place. Looking over his shoulder he wore the smile of a fool. “...we Vikenas have returned and made the greatest impression yet.”

Charlotte managed a smile but seemed at a loss of words. “An impression of sorts....” Her gaze slid to Delilah who had a similar look in her eyes. It sunk in and perhaps even frightened her a little now more than ever how delusional Lorenzo could be. There was no way to spin what had been written into a positive manner. The headline was quite literally calling him a warmonger. However, diluting his optimistic view could be dastardly as well, so she chose to move on. “Well then. We have a whole day ahead of us, don’t we? Let us maintain a good impression.”

“Absolutely! Now that we've both found one another, we can begin attending some of today's events…” Lorenzo turned to face his body to the two and noticed his current appearance. The thought of remaining home nearly crossed his mind, but he buried it. “But first I must freshen up and- hmm… Delilah could you inform Nathaniel that Kier will need some grooming for this afternoon's race.” Lorenzo was feeling daring today.

“Certainly.” The maid set the newspaper down and then turned on her heels to do as he asked. Charlotte proceeded to collect it from its spot. She stared at the first page for a moment, frowning at it, then began to flip through.

As she scanned the events of the day, something delicious caught her eye. The imagery that crossed her mind led to her licking her lips. With sudden enthusiasm, she picked up her head and looked at Lorenzo, “There’s free pancakes at the park!” She hurried over to her stepfather and practically shoved the newspaper at him, brimming with excitement, “We must attend!” Charlotte exclaimed just before the room fell silent with Lorenzo staring down at the advertised event with an eerie expression on his face.

“Lady Charlotte Marie Vikena… You should know by now that I absolutely hate pancakes... but we can go.”